Do you ever wish you got something faster/else?

I don't, because the Prius is exactly what we wanted, needed, and asked for. (bought new in 2010, 151k miles now and running like a top)

BUT... a lot of that contentment has to do with the fact that we are older, and have other cars to fill in the different needs. I have an old Miata for playtime ('94, 5 spd, 94k miles), and a 4Runner for work and hauling ('05, 4x4, 191k miles).

If I was a 22 year old single guy with just one car to do it all, I can confidently say that I would not be content with a Prius. I think that's understandable.

 

OP: Welcome and you have joined a huge network of Prius owners who have faced all the issues you could image including comfort, "buyer's remorse", and performance, to name a few. We're here to help and advise.
For your comfort issue, spend a bit more and get a set of Michelin Premiers which give a nicer ride but you will sacrifice a few MPGs. They also run quieter, especially on the freeways.
For your "need for speed", use POWER MODE. All it really does is remap the throttle, but it gives you the sensation of more guts under the hood.
You've made a good decision as Toyotas go the distance. You can put allot of carefree miles on it with just periodic maintenance. What I miss about mine was the large cargo area you gain by tipping down the rear seats. I was always amazed at how much "stuff" I could get in there!

 

It's hard when you are young and see all the nice fast cars but you have to live within your budget. My advice is to get a good education and a good paying job where eventually you will be able to have a second vehicle, one for it's advantage of economy and another for your need for speed.

 

I'm not a car aficionado, so I've never really understood the "more fun to drive" argument. I can drive as fast legally, in a Prius, as I can in any other vehicle, too.

In my 16 years of driving, I've had a Ford Explorer, an Acura TSX, Acura CL, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and now my Prius. I don't think I've ever felt one has been more fun to drive than the other. I had always wanted a Prius, though, and I'm so glad I pulled the trigger on one. If anything, I could argue that it's more fun to drive than anything when you're almost playing a game of "how can I get the most MPG out of this thing."

And it's nice to know I'm lessening my impact on the environment.

 

Not in the mountains, but one of my biggest worries when I bought my Prius last April was how it'd perform in a Wisconsin winter. We had a pretty nasty winter this year and I was thoroughly impressed with how it handled snow-covered/slippery roads.

 

I have several cars and I drive the one I drive the most is my Prius, same with my last Prius. The others are antiques or my truck and in the summer my 1999 Plymouth Prowler makes me young again.

 

I have had my Prius for 5 years and consider it the best car i have ever owned. I am 58 though and not as young as you. I certainly can see your desire for something different and more sporty. I would like to try to talk you out of a motorcycle if you are looking for the adrenaline rush.I recently just finished about 4 months of Dr visits every week and an out of pocket co-pay of 177.00 per visit due to complications of an injury I sustained on a motorcycle 40 years ago.

At some point in your car shopping for your first 2 cars, gas mileage seemed to be an important part of your decision. Add the higher cost of fuel to the possible higher purchase price and higher maintenance and repair costs and decide if it is something you still want. Like someone else already said, treat yourself to some new tires and wheels or a sound system for your car. May be cheaper than the money lost trading for something different.

Still it is your decision to make. Make sure you are doing what you want to do and take some time before making that final decision. Buying stuff on a whim can get expensive.

 

This right here. +1

Today at 7am, I started at an indicated 47.9 mpg CONS. At 8pm, after driving home from 3/4 of the way across town that had increased to 49.2. Its almost like mine is making gasoline driving across town. I never thought it could be this fun to try and improve the mpg while not acting like a Prius driver.

 

The Prius is just a good utility car and does most things well.

 

There are many of us who have modified our Prius, our ages range from our 20’s to 50’s and we all have a blast trying to make our cars look like it is faster then it is! We recently had a 3rd Annual Prius Meet and Cruise. You would be surprised at what aftermarket parts there are as well as TRD parts for the Prius. We even have a few that track their cars, and shock drivers of much faster cars! So you should check out some of our threads on Priuschat.

 

About cool and wanting one... Now with the Tesla Model 3 I've caught myself looking at the costs. To lease one would be twice as expensive as my Prius (that I love) but boy, is a Tesla fun to have. I've driven a Model S a few times and from pictures I really don't like the dash of a Model 3, but I do wont one.
That, or a Zero motorcycle.

 

Model 3 is as sterile as can be. I like switches and the ability to see guages. The big I Pad does nothing for me. The model S is looking outdated.

 

In contrast, my 1986 Accord I4 never got down to its EPA highway mpg rating unless it was pushing a loaded ski rack into a real headwind.

And I kept it for 23 years, longer than you have been alive, until replacing it with a 2010 Prius. Now I feel old.

The car I bought for my then-gf (when her prior car was no longer economically repairable), just passed its 30th birthday, and is still her daily driver. Now I feel really old.

No, I don't need anything faster.

 

Fuzzy I drove a 1989 Toyota Corolla All Trac wagon (26 HP per tire with a 5 speed!) until 2000, then gave to my daughter who drove it until 2009, then it went to a family friend who uses it as her winter car.
My daughter claimed I never passed any car going uphill until I found a Toyota Corolla All Trac wagon with an automatic. Not a powerful car; I could drive like mad in it and no one outside the car ever knew.

 

Brings back memories of my '67 VW bug.

 

+1...if the OP is still around.

I've had three motorcycles, and I still have 2.
I almost never ride anymore NOT because I'm scared of what happens when I twist the throttle, but because I grew tired of near misses from inattentive drivers.

I was in my early 20's when I got my first one, and the only reason that I lived through it is the fact that GOD loves everyone but seems to spend more time protecting children, sailors and fools - and I've been all three on a motorcycle.

However (comma!) that's NOT what's going to be likely to turn YOUR motorcycle into a donorcycle.
I'm getting from a re-read of your post that you're not really into preventative maintenance, and that will get you deader, quicker than almost anything else on a motorcycle - especially with tires, which tend to be much more expensive, and wear out much more quickly than automobile tires.
Motorcycles usually only have two....and you need then both to stay vertical.

It's a respect thing.
A moped is fast enough to kill you if you do not give it the respect that it deserves.

Works that way with lots of things in life....which is why a lot more bad stuff happens with a dinky little .22 rifle than high powered hunting rifles.

Advice:
If you close the loop on the Motorcycle thing - take and pass an MSF course first.
Then?
Try to learn to be super-anal about maintenance.
Also....
Buy used.
I have a V-Rod and a Vulcan 900 and they're both equally joyful to ride....and you can get into a good used street cruiser for waaaaaay less than 3 large....and it will still knock down a standing quarter pretty quick.

Quicker than most Hondas...

I've had a lot of cars - some of which were pretty crazy fast (Chevelle, Firebird, 300Zx's) but the 2 cars that I really had the most fun with was a 94 Geo Metro XFi and a 96 Miata.
The Miata only put about 20 more ponies on the pavement than a G3 Prius, but it was an absolute BLAST to drive on the ragged edge of out of control.....usually in parking lots....ish....and it broke me from the notion that you have to have eye-watering acceleration to turn gasoline into adrenaline.

The point obviously is that it's not how many ponies you got but what you do with them....

 

Same reasoning here for not having one anymore. Tons of fun, but the stupid is spread too thickly these days.

 

I've been tinkering with the idea of riding some more this summer - or doing what all old farts my age do which is to clean -em up and sell them for an old Jeep or other rag-top........

I'm somewhat afraid that if I start riding them more then the old siren-song will lure me closer to the rocks again....

 

Mine would be a Formula One.

2nd place is my Prius. I scavenged for 6 months for which car to buy as a single man that’s not in debt and plan to stay out of debt, drove far as 250 miles away to test drive cars. So it ended up being a Prius 63 mpg for the last 7 months of 100 mi/day work commute. There was no need for speed and still, but haven’t regretted yet.

3rd Honda Civic Hybrid.